TOILE BEDDING BUYING GUIDE

Toile Bedding

Toile fabric was first commercially produced in France in 1760. The word “toile” means “cloth” in French. The fabric was created in a region called Jouy-en-Josas. It was originally referred to as Toile de Jouy for that reason.

The first toile prints were usually white or cream. The stories told in the original toile patterns might be the retelling of a Greek or Roman myth, a sailing adventure, or simply the daily life of a farmer in the French countryside. Today the word toile is used to describe an elegant printing technique with engraving-like detail which tells a story with the images depicted. The images consist of a pattern of a single color, most often black, dark red, or blue. Greens and magenta colors sometimes make an appearance in toile patterns but are less common. The intricacy and uniqueness of these designs has kept them alive since their first appearances in the 1700’s. These patterns can be found on any base from bedding, linens, and curtains to wallpaper and even recently, clothing.

Toile remains most popular for bedding and linens and the top manufacturers all offer a toile ensemble. Ranging from traditional French country scenes to florals these bedding ensembles are a beautiful way to enhance your living space and create decorating detail that simply can not be found in other designs.

Many manufacturers offer bedding ensembles, curtains, upholstery and much more in toile patterns. When you purchase a toile bedding ensemble you can take your style a step further by adding matching window treatments, shower curtains and even furniture with toile patterned upholstery. With today’s technology and a wide variety of offerings by fine manufacturers anyone can beautifully decorate their home with patterns and designs that were available only from professional decorators in the past.